Employment

Working in the United States

International s tudents at CofC are frequently interested in pursuing on-campus or off-campus employment. Employment benefits available to international students may include a job on the CofC campus, off-campus employment (an internship of Co-op experience), or Optional Practical Training following graduation.

Students should be very familiar with the immigration requirements and deadlines to ensure their ability to take advantage of the benefit of working in the United States. Working On-Campus International students on F-1 status are eligible to begin working on-campus immediately upon enrolling at CofC.

On-campus work does not require DSO approval. Students establish their eligibility to work by providing the Payroll Office at CofC with the necessary required documents. Please check with Human Resources at 843.953.7656 for information on what documents are required.

• All on-campus work is treated the same for the 20 hours per week limit; e.g., a teaching assistant working 15 hours per week can only work 5 additional hours per week in another on-campus job
• On-campus employment includes work done as a teaching or research assistant as well as jobs in the school library, and administrative offices.
• Students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session. During school breaks, international students may work up to 40 hours per week on-campus.
• Employment is "incident to status," and does not require DSO or USIC approval.
• Students temporarily attending two institutions concurrently may work only on the campus of the institution that issued their SEVIS Form.
• A student may not engage in on-campus employment during the 60-day grace period following the completion of a course of study or thereafter, expect for employment authorized for OPT.

Off-Campus Employment

An international student who has been enrolled full-time at CofC for one full academic year may be eligible to work off-campus in work which is directly related to his/her program of study. USCIS student regulations call this Curricular Practical Training (CPT) which should not be confused with Optional Practical Training (the 12 months of employment authorization available following graduation from CofC). Note: Use of full-time CPT for one year or more eliminated eligibility for OPT.

The regulations at 8 CFR 214.2 (f)(10)(i) define curricular practical training as "alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school."

Curricular practical training is available to F-1 students who have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least nine consecutive months. In most cases, curricular practical training will not be authorized if it results in a work commitment of more than twenty hours/week while a student is enrolled in classes.

Eligibility / Application Process

The requirements to be eligible for Curricular Practical Training are:

• The student must have been in full-time status for at least 9 consecutive months.
• To qualify, the student must be in good academic standing, making normal progress.
• Students may engage in Curricular Practical Training only for the specific employer location and period approved and recorded by the DSO in SEVIS.
• Duration of Curricular Practical depends on the specific period granted by the DSO. May be granted in increments of no more than one year.
• Curricular Practical Training can be approved for part-time (20 hours or less) or full-time (over 20) hours.
• Employment must be an integral part of an established curriculum, in the student's course of study.
• Student must obtain a written recommendation from the academic advisor that the student is authorized for the training in question.
• Student must have an offer of employment from an employer offering work that qualifies as curricular practical training.
• Use of full-time Curricular Practical Training for one year or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training.
• Student must receive written authorization from DSO, who records authorization in SEVIS and issues SEVIS I-20 with notation, before work begins.
• Student must continue to maintain a full course of study in F-1 status during the period of employment.

Optical Practical Training

Students are eligible for OPT only after completing one year of full-time courses. Students may submit an application for optional practical training (OPT) up to 90 days prior to their graduation date. Application of OPT after graduation is not permitted. Students granted optional practical training receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card). Currently, it is taking between 6 to 9 weeks for USCIS to process OPT applications and mail EAD cards.

To apply for practical training, students must submit to the International Student Advisor:

• A completed I-765 form (Application for Employment Authorization). The I-765 application form and instructions are easily downloaded from the USCIS website at USCIS forms.
• Original I-20 forms
• Photocopy of your Form I-94 Arrival/departure card front and back on one page).
• Photocopy of your Biographical page of your passport.
• If previously engaged in practical training, include a photocopy of your first EAD card.
• Two full color frontal photographs "passport style" which is no more than 30 days old. Write your name and I-94 number in pencil on the back of each photo.
• Check or money order made payable to "DHS" for $175. Please note: Students are encouraged not to travel while OPT application is pending. Traveling may cause the application to be cancelled by USCIS.

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